Self and henry e



(No Model.)

I. M. MoKAY.

SAFETY SNAP HOOK. v No. 354,481. Patented Dec. 14, 1886.

WITNESS JINVw':

.771 and v i;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC MATHESON MGKAY, OF EOCKLIN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOE TO HIM- SELF AND HENRY E. STAFFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

SAFETY SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 354,481, dated December 14, 1886.

Application filed May 5, 1886. Serial No. 201,185. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC MATnEsoN Mo- KAY, of Roeklin,-in the county of Placer and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the snap-hook opened.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of thedrawings.

My invention consists in a hook having apolygonal chambered shank, and provided with an arm arranged to slide on the shank for closing the hook, and in a spring acted tongue for engagingthe arm and holding itin a closed position.

The shank B of the hook A in the present case is square in crOsssection, and is provided with a chamber, a, in which is pivoted a tongue, C, 011 the pin Z). The tongue C is pressed outward by the V shaped spring 0, and its outward movement is limited by a finger, d, which reaches over the body of the shank below the pivot. The chamber a of theshank has sufficient depth to permit of pressing the tongue C into the chamber below the face of. the shank B.

To the shank B is fitted a short sleeve, D, provided with a curvedarm, e, which is bent forward and arranged to abut against the endof the book A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The length of the sleeveD and the tongueC are so related to each other that when the end of the curved arm 0 is in'contact with or very near the end of the hook A thetongue' C will spring outward behind the end of the sleeve D, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus retain the sleeve and the arm 6 in position across the opening of the hook. In this position it will be seen that all of the strain brought to bear upon the arm 0 or sleeve D is taken by the tongue C, and that the office of the spring a is merely to hold the tongue C in engagement with the sleeve D. When it is desired to open the snap-hook, the tongue C is pressed into the chamber a by the thumb or finger, when the sleeve D may he slid back, as shown in Fig. 3, thus opening the hook.

The end of the shankB is provided with the usual loop, E, for receiving astrap or chain.

My improved snap-hook is designed for use in connection with harness, ships rigging, and mining-and hauling machinery.

Although I have described the snap-hook as being provided with a square shank, it is obvious' that the shank might be octagonal, or, if 5 provided with a spline or slot and feather, it might be cylindrical in form, therefore I do not confine my invention to the exact form and proportions shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the hook A, provided with a chambered'shanlgB, of the springacted tongue C, pivoted in the chamber, and the sliding sleeve D, provided with the arm e, the said sleeve sliding beyond the free end of the tongue to allow said tongue to spring outward and lock the sleeve in place, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, 

